Are two engines better than one?

We keep toying with the idea of getting a bigger boat which will inevitably mean we end up with twin engines, but we always end up asking the question is it really worth it too us? So far the answer has been no, but you can't rule out that at some point we are going to trade up.

We have been lucky enough to never have suffered a fuel problem or other problem that has completely disabled the engine yet in the 7 years that we have owned the boat. We did however suffer from what we suspect is a turbo failure on our return home from our summer cruise which left us limping across the Wash at 5 knots in not very nice conditions. Having two engines would have done nothing to help this situation.

For now we are happy to trust our single engine and reap the benefits of relatively cheap boating.
 
Similar to CX54WEK, in the 16 years with my current boat a single engine 25ft boat I've had two situations where I was disabled in the Solent. The first one was an bracket shearing off (by vibration) damaging 3 belts, a second engine would have got me home, but as that wasn't an option, dropped anchor and I had spares onboard to replace those belts, I was soon on my way again. The second incident was a rope around the prop and if I had a second engine then that too would have been tangled around the second prop. On both occasions Seastart (AA on water) was a great help, so I suggest you become a member of SeaStart (£140ish a year), as you are Solent base it appears, it would normally be a case of dropping anchor and call them, in my experience they were with me within an hour. If they can't fix it, they will tow you etc.

I often thought of upgrading to a larger boat but still with a single engine and will do at some point, but for now I enjoy my current boat and the low cost (e.g. maintenance, berthing, fuel, insurance etc).
 
Get yourself something like a Merry Fisher 695 or 755 with an auxiliary 15hp outboard. If the main outboard fails you can limp home on the auxiliary outboard connected to a jerry can.

I understand your partner is an engineer?... But it might be worth registering for Sea Start. Also get a plenty of anchor chain, in case you do have to anchor in very deep water.
 
Can I give some advice to both Bruce and Yourself

We are a happily married couple having just celebrated over 40 years of boating together!

I now find it far more relaxing on picking up moorings, anchoring and docking to have the weaker less mobile person on the Helm!

I have to admit it but Beverley is much better at controlling our boat under power despite far less boating experience! A born natural. It took some persuading but she is now quite happy to take control most of the time.

Having prearranged and well practised hand signals (or some good hands free headset radios)avoids shouting and undue stress.
Also consider how much the shouting and obvious lack of confidence inspires the other younger members of your crew... NOT

It makes it far less amusing for spectators that always used to gather in anticipation of our cockups!

Yes Bruce there is a photo of us wedged at 90 degrees to the PD lock with me at the helm!

So Go On try it and you will be surprised how well you can work in partnership once well practised!

Steve
 
Get Vix at the controls?!! Have you seen her car?!!! Oeeerrr, better check me insurance is up to date and watertight.

Just so you know, the last three cars of hers I binned. Not sold on, binned! I even took her motorcycle off her. She was going to kill herself and leave me stranded with two gawdawful brats. But OK, I'll give Kwaks a call. How's his heart these days? He can teach her, I'll go and hide in the pub!!
 
Jodles123 said:
Kev - thank you, you've hit the nail on the head there. It's the annual costs that are really going to be the dealbreaker here I think. And in answer to your question about the ropes, I am with your wife on this. I am pretty useless in fact, and hubby has said so many times - and in fact has cited it as being a primary reason for NOT getting a bigger boat. (I managed to get a Masters degree from Cambridge but can't do ropes.) It always ends in swearing, sometimes tears, and generally puts a downer on the whole trip. (I am secretly glad to see by your post that it's not just me!) Hubby has been sailing all his life and doesn't get why I would find it so hard! So - am I just compounding the problem by even considering something bigger?
Click to expand...
[

Don't really understand the issue with ropes on a small boat like yours. It's the helms job to place the boat where the crew can step off and frankly on your boat, that should be all that is needed until the helm can then also walk off and take one or more ropes off you. If its tricky for you to get on and off I think it ain't your fault (ducks for cover). An auxiliary outboard seems the best answer to me. All you need is a second hand Mariner or Tohatsu on a raising bracket as a get me home reserve - that's only a few hundred pounds of confidence builder. All you will be doing in an emergency main engine failure is chugging to shallower water to anchor and keeping the boat head to wind while you call for help. I totally also second the value of Seastart - I have used them twice - once in the Hamble river and once near Anvil Point - they are very good at sorting you out, towing you if necessary and not making you feel stupid. In the Solent once you put out a Panpan you will be beating people off with a stick who want to say they rescued someone. Are two engines better - sure but 2 lots of servicing, more fuel burn and all the other points made and a much bigger, heavier boat to man/woman handle
 
My worst nightmare too Jodles tbh and one we've been lucky not to have experienced so far (touch wood). One thing we have which always gives peace of mind is Sea Start. I know your hubby's an engineer himself but Sea Start can always tow you back to your home berth...then you don't need to worry about the coastguard.
L
:)
 
Oh Lordy, have come back to hundreds of replies...you are all very kind and helpful! (And it seems I've thanked the wrong person at some point....apologies!!!!!)

I'd love to be the one at the helm - unfortunately HWMBO has mobility issues so not an option for us, I'm always going to be the one jumping around...

We do indeed already have a direct debit set up - and have done for years - for the Gosport inshore boat. And now for the RNLI too! Honestly those folks are amazing.... they deserve so much more recognition for what they do.
 
BruceK said:
Get Vix at the controls?!! Have you seen her car?!!! Oeeerrr, better check me insurance is up to date and watertight.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Having seen how my SWMBO has treated a succession of new cars, there's no way I'd let her helm our boat and yes I know that sounds sexist. The way I deal with it is to continually praise her rope and fender handling. A quiet "there's no way I could have handled that fender as smartly as you, dear, to stop us bashing into the boat next door" goes an awful long way. Of course it does mean you have to grit your teeth and stay schtum when she does get it wrong but thats a small price to pay for keeping your mitts on those precious engine levers;)
 
Deleted User said:
Agreed. Having seen how my SWMBO has treated a succession of new cars, there's no way I'd let her helm our boat and yes I know that sounds sexist. The way I deal with it is to continually praise her rope and fender handling. A quiet "there's no way I could have handled that fender as smartly as you, dear, to stop us bashing into the boat next door" goes an awful long way. Of course it does mean you have to grit your teeth and stay schtum when she does get it wrong but thats a small price to pay for keeping your mitts on those precious engine levers;)
Click to expand...

How would SWMBO go on it you suddenly became ill and she had to handle the boat?

We always said we would both learn to handle the boat for that very situation. Last weekend it came in handy as the OH was taken to A&E leaving me to single hand the boat back to the marina.

Most of female friends admitted that they would have been stuck as they wouldn't have been able to get back on their own.

I didn't give it a second thought!
 
CX54WEK said:
How would SWMBO go on it you suddenly became ill and she had to handle the boat?
Click to expand...
We have discussed this many times and we came to the conclusion that if I was slumped on the floor dying of a heart attack I wouldn't care whether she got the boat back or not;)
 
Let me see if I undersood... You're a woman that insists her hubby buys a bigger and more expensive boat?...
Blimey, you're a keeper :)
 
pretty much. SWMBO can handle the VHF to call a mayday in such a circumstance and knows how to drive the boat forward. She's just not very good at it and uses lots of steering wheel rather than using twin throttle going up the channel at hull speed. Ever seen a car loose the backend and start a slalom. Yep, that's as good as it gets :encouragement:
 
I'm not sure that two engines are enough.

get-up-and-go.jpeg
 
Jodles123 said:
Hubby is saying that twin engines might not have prevented the problem - apparently it was a problem with the fuel pipe from the tank to the engine rather than the engine itself, and he says that if twin engines share the same fuel pipe, we would still have been in the same situation. Can anyone shed any light on this? Is getting a twin engined boat really not going to make a difference?
Click to expand...

The question of one versus two or more engines is a classic engineering one which arises in all sorts of area. For a given maximum power it makes sense to have

  • one engine if availability of maximum power is of crucial importance, because the more engines you have the more chance there is of a failure and therefore of less than maximum availability but
  • two or more engines if availability of some power is of crucial importance, because although multiple engines are more likely to fail than single engines, they won't leave you powerless if they do.

For example, fighter aircraft generally have single engines because in combat a pilot with half power is as dead as a pilot with no power, while bombers have multiple engines because crews with no power are definitely dead but crews with three-quarters power might make it back. The same principle applies in other areas: one battery is better than two if maximum current draw is critical but two batteries are better than one if some current draw is better than none. Two people in a job share are more likely than one to let you down a bit because of illness while a single employee is more likely to let you down totally. And so on.

Of course aircraft don't have the option of sticking a wee outboard on the back in case of problems. I have friends with a nice 24' motor launch, which is great fun but makes me nervous because it relies wholly on an ancient Perkins. I wish they'd fit an outboard bracket.
 
We have a twin engine boat but wouldn't not buy a single engine one, if that makes sense?
Main advantage is cheaper servicing (2 out drives)
Better to have one well maintained engine than two neglected ones, not that ours are neglected I hasten to add!
As others have said both engines share the same fuel tank and 12 volt, usually the cause of a failure.
I think I,d get an auxiliary outboard if I were you, or if upgrading boat, go for it and get some beds, a fridge and a cooker!
Good luck whatever you decide but keep boating ��
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

C
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE - EIAPP CERTIFICATION
Replies
8
Views
437
Tranona
T
E
Nimbus 305 or Marex 330
Replies
19
Views
989
Time Out
T

Share this page

Top